Photofluoroscopic apparatus



Dec. 27, 1949 R. J. WAGNER 2,492,339

PHOTOFLUOROSGOPIC APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1947 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M ATTORNEY Dec. 27, i949 R. J. WAGNER PHOTOFLUOROSCOPIC APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ,a .7'. WHG/V672 Y Ami Vw- ATTORNEY Filed May 1o, ,1947

Dec. 27, 1949 R. J. WAGNER PHOTOFLUOROSCOPIC APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 1o, 1947 4 @www WM Mm ww m MIJ.. A am Patented Dec. 27, 1949 2,492,339 PHoToFLUoRosooPIc APPARATUS Robert J. Wagner, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application May 10, 1947, Serial No. 747,253

Claims. (Cl. Z50-92) The present invention relates to X-ray apparatus and especially to that type now commonly referred to as photofluoroscopic apparatus.

In apparatus of this type an image is cast upon a uorescent screen by the passage of a beam of X-rays through a patient or object and a photograph is then made of such image on strip ilm of the type commonly employed for the making of motion pictures but with the lm intermittently advancing one frame at a time instead of continuously as during the making of a motion picture. The fact that more or less standard motion picture film can be used instead of the larger Iilm previously employed for radiography has greatly reduced the expense of X-ray diagnosis and inspection of manufactured articles.

Up to the present time such apparatus has been more or less the permanent type, that is, completely assembled at the factory or at the location of installation, Where it thereafter remains permanently aiiixed, due to its weight and difficulty Y of assembly. However, such apparatus would nd a greater eld of usage if of a portable nature and which can be readily and rapidly assembled and disassembled, without requiring the services of a highly skilled technician,

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a photofluoroscopic apparatus wherein the various parts are as light in weight as feasible commensurate with strength and durability so that they'can be readily transported from place to place.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a photouoroscopic apparatus which can be readily" assembled and disassembled without requiring the services of a highly skilled technician since no critical adjustments of the various parts is necessary. l

A further object of the ypresent invention is the provision of a photoiluoroscopic apparatus of simple construction wherein the parts simultaneously move to align the X-ray tube with the screen, and the photographic hood is raised and lowered automatically by a sprocket chain.

Still further objects of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the photofluoroscopic apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevational view looking from theright of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of a portion ofthe raising mechanism, as shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3 with part of the apparatus broken away to better illustrate the various parts,

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line V-V of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 3,

Figure '7 is a schematic illustration showing the electrical control circuit for the apparatus of the present invention in the inoperative condition of the circuit,

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration showing the identical control circuit of Figure 7, but with such circuit in its operating condition to lower the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 it comprises a pair of base members 5 and 6, one of which supports an upright or tube column 1, and the other of which supports a pair of uprights or columns 8 and 9. A channel tie bar lil interconnects the columns 1 and 9 at the top and a similar tie bar I2 interconnects the bases 5 and 6 at the oor line, to position the apparatus carried by the respective columns a predetermined distance apart. Also, the columns are secured in their respective bases, and the tie rods IIl and I2 to the columns 1 and 9, by suitable locks I3 to enable the ready disassembly of the apparatus. Adjustment screws I4 pass through each base into contact with the floor for leveling the apparatus.

The column 1 is provided with a track I5 over which a collar or the like I6 is arranged to move longitudinally of the column 1. Pivotally secured to the collar I6 is a bracket I1 while an X-ray tube housing I8 is in turn pivotally connected to the bracket I1 by a further bracket I9, which thus allows adjustment of the X-ray tube both in a horizontal plane, due to the pivotal connections, and in a vertical plane, by movement of the collar I6. The X-ray tube receives high potential electrical energy through a pair of high voltage cables 20 and 22 extending to a transformer or the like (not shown).

A photouoroscopic carriage 23 is arranged to move vertically of the columns 8 and 9 and comprises a collar 24 provided with suitable rollers 25 (Figures 3 and 4) 'engageable with tracks 26 extending longitudinally of the column 9. Se-

cured to the collar 24, or formed integrally therewith, is the base portion 21 of the carriage 23 which at its far end isprovided with rollers 28,

engageable with a track 29 extending longitudinally of the column 8. A pair of upright brackets 30 are secured tothe top surface of the base portion 21 and a photographic hood 32 is secured to these brackets with the latter having a fluorescent screen 33 at its large end nearest the X-ray Itube and a motor driven motion picture type camera 34 at its opposite end.

An electric motor 35 is mounted within the base portion 21 which, through a reduction gearing arrangement 33, rotates a sprocket gear 31. A link chain 3S having one end anchored to the top of the column 9 passes aroundthe sprocket gear 31 being guided interiorly of the baseportion 21 by means of lips or the like 39, and around the sprocket gear by blocks 4!) having arcuate surfaces which provide a groove for the chain 38; An idler roller 42 is pivotally secured adjacent the sprocket gear 31 over which the chain 38 passes into a compartment. 43 of such length, height and width, that the-chain 38D automatically folds itself into layers, as shown in Figure 3, as it feeds itself into the co-mpartment. Thus .upon rotation of the. sprocket gear. 31'bythe electric motor 3'5 the entirephotouoroscopic carriage 23 literf ally climbs upwardly onthe chain 38 yto raise the carriage longitudinally of the columns 8 and 9, with the surplus chain automatically folding itself in the compartment 43. By the ysame token,

`when the carriage is lowered by reversal of the motor 35, it likewise climbs downthe chain 38, with the latter; automatically feeding. out of the compartment 43 and the base portion 21, through the guiding groove providedY by. the blocks andthe lips 39.

lit-will also benoted that a cable or chain 44 has one end secured tothe coll-ar 24.0f the carriage 23 and passes downwardly around a pulley or idler'gear 45 carried: by the base 6, thence upwardlyarounda similar pulley or idler gear 46 at the top of the column 9; andacross interiorly of the cross-tie channel I0 around a pulley or idler 41S carried at the-topf-of the column 1, with the opposite end of `the, chain 44 being connected tothe X-ray tubecarriage collar I6. Ac-

cordingly as. the photouoroscopic carriage 23 climbs upwardly or downwardly of the-chain 38, the X-ray tube carriage moves simult-aneously therewith in thek same direction, to` maintain the axis of the X-ray beam in alignment with the horizontal axis of the hood 32, and hence in `alignment with the screen 33 and' film within the camera 34.

For the purpose of supplying electrical energy to the electric motor, as Wellas controlling the motor of theY camera 34v from the usual control stand, cables 48 ande49 extend across the crosstie channel ID withsufficient slack parallel with the columns 8k and 9, to allow ample movement of the photofluoroscopic carriage 23 without placing a strain of any kind on the cables 48 andV 49. The drivingV motor 35 is controlled at the carriage 23 by operation of a drum switch 55 disposed interiorly of the base portion 21. However, by reference more particularly to FiguresV 3 and 5 it will be noted that such switch includes an operating lever 52 projecting from the base 21 and interiorly of the latter such lever threadedly engages' one arm of apivoted L-shaped member 53. The end of the other arm of such member 53 is provided with teeth 54 meshing with a gear 5'5 carriedby the drum switch shaft 56. A pair of springs 51 and v53 (Figure 5) normally bias the. L-shaped. member 53 in" such a position that vbridged across the disc 62.

4 the drum switch is in the oi or neutral position.

Bly reference now more particularly to Figures 3, 7 and 8, it will be seen that the drum switch shaft e6 is provided with three disc-type switching members 59, 60 and 62 formed of suitable insulating material or the like and provided with peripheral contacts. For example, switch member 59 has contacts 63, 64, 35 and 66 with contacts 33 and E5 being bridged across the disc; switch member 69 has contacts 61, 68, 69 and 1D with contacts 61 and 19 being bridged across the disc; and switch member 62 has contacts 12, 13, 14 and 15 with contacts 12-15 and 13-15 being One side Ll of the llo volt source of supply (and constituting one conductor of the cable 48 for example) is connected to a brush 16 bearing on the periphery of disc 59 and also to a similar brush 11 bearing on the periphery of disc 62.

The opposite side L2 of the supply source is connected to one side of motor winding 13 and to a brush 19 bearing on the periphery of disc 60. The remaining brush bearing on disc 59 is connected through a capacitor 82 and switchf83 to motor starting winding 84, while the opposite end of this later Winding is connected to the remaining brush 35 bearing on disc 60, and'simi'- larly the remaining brush 85 bearing on disc 62 is connected to the opposite end of motor winding 18. It will also be noted that contact 64 of disc 59 connects to ContactI 68 of disc Eiland-likewise contact 5.35 of disc 59 connectsf to contact 69 of disc 69, these connections being permanent (as distinguished from. a brush connection) but with sumcient flexibility toallow rotationof discs 59 and 63 without straining of the connections.

As shown in Figure 7,the drum switch5!) is. in the neutral or off positionwiththe result that the photouoroscopic and X-ray carriages remain in a xed position on the columns 1, 8 and 9. Assuming the operator desires to lower the carriages in order to take a picture of a patient of shorter stature, he presses downwardly on the lever 5.2. This causes counter-clockwise rotation of the end of L-shape member-'53 (as viewed from Figure 5) in turn causing clockwise rotation of gear 55 and drum switch shaft 56. Since the latter rotates in a clockwise direction, it also rotates the disc-type switching members 59, 60 and 62 in the same direction, as shownv by the arrow in Figure '7.

Such rotation accordingly aligns the various disc contacts and places the circuit in the condi-v tion as shown in Figure` 8 to operate the motor 35 and lower the carriages. For example, one side of the supply source'Ll connects to the brush 16 now engaging contact 63 and across the bridge to contact now engaged by brush 89 and thence through capacitor 82 and switch 83, to one side of starting winding 84. From the opposite end of this winding 84 the circuit is completed through brush 95. now engagingy contact 61, across the bridge to contact 1l)y now engaged by brush 19, and

' thence back to the oppositeside` of the supply source L2. At thel same. time one side of the supply source L2 is connected to motor winding 18 while its other end is connected to brush 86 now engaging contact 15, across the bridge to contact 12 now engaged by brush 11, and thence back to the other side of the supply source Ll.

Thus both motor windings are energizedcausing rotation of the motor with counter-clockwise rotation of sprocket gear 31 (as seen vfrom Figure 3) and climbing down of the carriage 23 along :incassa chain 38, as previously explained, accompanied by simultaneous downward movement of the X- ray tube carriage I6. Also, since motor 35 is of the repulsion-induction type, switch 83 opens immediately after starting of the motor to interrupt the circuit to the starting winding 84 in the well known manner. Upon the carriages reaching the desired height the operator merely releases the pressure on the lever 52 and the springs 51 and 58 return the drum switch 50 to the neutral or "off position. To raise the carriages the operator raises the lever 52 which causes reverse rotation of the discs 59, 6D and B2. Such rotation short-circuits the brushes 76 and 85, as well as 80 and 19, reversing current flow through motor starting winding 84 and causing reverse direction of rotation of motor 35 from that as shown with the circuit of Figure 8. The sprocket 31 accordingly rotates in a clockwise direction (Figure 3) causing the carriage 23 to climb up the chain 38, as previously described. Limit pins 9D and 92 project from the column 8 which engage the lever 52 to return it to the neutral or olf position despite pressure by the operator, should the carriage travel in either direction beyond safe limits.

It should thus become obvious to those skilled in the art that a photoluoroscopic X-ray apparatus is herein provided which can be readily assembled and disassembled to make it mobile and easily transportable from place to place. Due to the fact that no adjustments are required other than aligning of the X-ray beam with the horizontal axis of the photographic hood which itself is not too critical, no skilled technician is required and the average layman can quickly assemble the apparatus. Moreover, the simultaneous movement of both the X-ray tube and photouoroscopic carriages in the same direction, due to their interconnection and the climbing of the photoluoroscopic carriage up and down a sprocket chain, makes for a minimum of moving parts thus decreasing the total weight of the apparatus as well as facilitating its assembly without critical adjustments.

Although one specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that other embodiments thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A detachable and mobile photofluoroscopic apparatus comprising base members, columns extending from said base members and detachably connected thereto, a detachable X-ray tube carriage supported by one of said columns, a photofluoroscopic carriage detachably supported by other of said columns, a connection between said carriages adapted to cause simultaneous movement of said carriages in the same direction longitudinally of their respective supporting columns, a detachable member secured at one end to and depending from the top of one of said supporting columns, and a driving mechanism carried by one of said carriages and engageable with said depending member and operable at the will of an operator to automatically cause movement of said carriage with said driving mechanism carried thereby longitudinally of said depending member and said supporting columns accompanied by simultaneous movement of the other of said carriages longitudinally of its supporting carriage.

2. A photofluoroscopic apparatus comprising base members, columns extending from said base members, an X-ray tube carriage supported by one of said columns, a photofluoroscopic carriage supported by the other of said columns, a connection between said carriages adapted to cause simultaneous movement of said carriages in the same direction longitudinally of their respective supporting columns, a link chain secured at one end to and depending from the top of one of said supporting columns, and a driving mechanism carried by one of said carriages including a sprocket gear engageable With said link chain and operable at the will of an operator to automatically cause movement of the carriage with said driving mechanism carried thereby longitudinally of said link chain and said supporting column accompanied by simultaneous movement of the other of said carriages longitudinally of its supporting column.

3. A photofluoroscopic apparatus comprising base members, columns extending from said base members, an X-ray tube carriage supported by one of said columns, a photofluoroscopic carriage supported by other of said columns, a connection between said carriages adapted to cause simultaneous movement of said carriages in the same direction longitudinally of their respective supporting columns, a link chain depending from the top of one of said supporting columns, a driving mechanism including a sprocket gear engageable with said link chain and operable at the will of an operator to automatically cause movement of said driving mechanism longitudinally of said link chain accompanied by simultaneous movement of said carriages, and a compartment carried by said photofluoroscopic carriage into which said link chain automatically folds and unfolds as said carriage moves longitudinally of its respective supporting column.

4. A photofluoroscopic apparatus comprising base members, columns extending from said base members, an X-ray tube carriage supported by one of said columns, a photouoroscopic carriage supported by other of said columns, a connection between said carriages adapted to cause simultaneous movement of said carriages in the same direction longitudinally of their respective supporting columns, a link chain depending from the top of one of said supporting columns, and a driving mechanism carried by said photoilu- Oroscopic carriage including a sprocket gear engageable with said link chain, an electric motor, a switch operable at the Will of an operator to cause energization of said motor and rotation of said sprocket gear with attendant climbing of said driving mechanism up or down said link chain, depending upon the operation of said switch, accompanied by movement of said carriages longitudinally of their respective supporting columns; and a compartment carried by said photofluoroscopic carriage into which the excess link chain automatically folds and unfolds as the driving mechanism moves longitudinally thereof.

5. A photouoroscopic apparatus comprising base members, columns extending from said base members, a cross-tie channel between said columns to steady said apparatus, an X-ray tube carriage supported by one of said columns, a photofluoroscopic carriage supported by other of said columns, a connection between said carriages adapted to cause simultaneous movement of said carriages in the same direction longitudinally of their respective supporting columns, a link chain depending from the top of one of said supporting columns, and a driving mechanism carried by said photouoroscopic carriage including a sprocket gear engageable with said link chain, an electric motor, a switch operable at the will of an operator to cause energization of said motor and rotation of said sprocket gear with attendant climbing of said driving mechanism up or down said link chain,Y depending upon operation of' said switch; accompanied by movement of'said carriages longitudinally of their respective supporting columns;

a compartment carried by said photouoroscopic carriage into which the excess link chain automatically folds and unfoldsoas thedrivingmechanism moves longitudinally thereof, and energizing 10 and control cables for said electric motor and said photofiuoroscopic carriage extending across said cross-tie channel to prevent a patient or operator from becoming entangled with said cables..

ROBERT J. WAGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofv record inthe file ofV thispatent: 

